King Kyle’s Funny Reaction as he Re-Lives his Gold Medal Swim as an 18-Year-Old

Australian swimming sensation, Kyle Chalmers, recently opened up on The Howie Games podcast, offering a raw and candid look back at his unforgettable Gold Medal swim in the 100-metre freestyle at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Chalmers first reflected on the race that catapulted him into the global spotlight, with a laugh.

“My skills are horrendous. If you’re teaching a kid how to swim, you should never watch that race. I was so raw. No technique.”

Despite the imperfections, his performance was a masterclass in resilience and power.

At just 18, Chalmers was competing on the world’s biggest stage, racing solo on the international circuit for the first time.

“Making the final as an 18-year-old would have been an achievement in itself,” he shared.

“I’d never raced individually internationally, never been at an Olympic Games. So making an Olympic final would have been an achievement.”

He describes moment by moment his life changing 100 metre swim.

“Knowing I was… in striking distance at the 50-meter mark was quite good for me coming off the turn.”

Chalmers recounts each moment, each stroke, each thought racing through his mind.

“It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. I know in that exact moment, I can see myself slowly catching. Slowly catching. I loved being the hunter. I love the lactate is starting to hit.  I love being able to push through that pain.”

Chalmers also detailed the thrilling uncertainty of his finish, before the realisation of being the fastest swimmer in the world hit.

“Initially I thought I had a really bad finish… I thought I had lost it on the finish.”

“Turning and seeing a number 1 next to my name was indescribable feeling, and it is a feeling I have been chasing ever since that moment.”

The triumph changed his life overnight. Chalmers returned to Australia not just as a champion but as a national icon.

“I went away as a 17-year-old nobody knew. I came back…but I didn’t know what it meant to be an Olympic gold medallist until I came back to Australia.”

Reflecting on the whirlwind that followed, he recalls being honoured at the AFL Grand Final, being asked for photos by Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney, and the surreal experience of being recognised internationally.

For the full journey from a “raw” teenager to a gold medal hero, listen to Kyle Chalmers on The Howie Games. His story is a testament to grit, passion, and the drive to be the best—even when you’re still figuring it all out.